Category: lighting

This is a re-posting of a glowing review of Lights, Camera… Nude! written by Michelle7.com editor Jack Gilbert. I can only hope that you enjoy the book to the same degree that he did.

Nicholas has hit another home run here. Much like in his previous book, True Confessions of Nude Photography, he presents what might be seen as a difficult subject and shows how simply things can be. The subject matter of this new book is lighting techniques for shooting nudes. He goes over general concepts at first, but then dives into explaining what the various lighting devices are and even provides what different lighting kits and equipment configurations can do for you. Studio and location settings are explained in a very-easy-to-understand manner. It’s refreshing in that Nicholas does not try to overwhelm the reader with too much information or impress them with his wealth of knowledge and experience. He just lays it out simply and concisely.

All but the most advanced professionals will benefit from reading this book, and the best part is that it won’t take that long before you’re lighting your models like a true professional.

Photographers go to great lengths to create natural-looking skin tones, shadows, and a soft pleasing light that mimics what we are accustomed to seeing. It requires large lighting modifiers and color-corrected flash tubes to generate the quality of light that the sun and sky provide. Painstaking effort is required to get the angle of the light correct, and the right ratio of fill light without making the shadows look peculiar.

Some of the most beautiful figure photographs are captured in nature. However, this is balanced by the lack of predictable results.

I encourage all figure photographers to experiment with both studio lighting and daylight. Make an effort to become proficient at both. Even if you end up having a favorite, as most do, you will add variety to your portfolio and strengthen your overall photographic problem solving skills.